According to The Times, senior British officials have expressed concern that US AI companies are deliberately exaggerating the risks of their technology for their own economic benefit. British Prime Minister Burnham stated at the UN General Assembly that global regulation of AI must be strengthened and a "uniform set of global principles and standards" must be established. He stated that while AI could bring transformative benefits to the economy, education, and healthcare, it could also be a "potential source of disruption to the way we live and work." However, British government officials privately believe that AI companies are driven by profit to exaggerate their technological capabilities. One official stated, "These companies have an incentive to raise the alarm: they increase sales by exaggerating the capabilities of their models, while simultaneously squeezing out competitors by creating a situation where only they can bear the costs of regulatory restrictions."
The official also stated that because the most advanced large-scale AI models are currently controlled by US companies, the UK's ability to regulate the industry is limited. The official said, "Public messaging to Parliament and the public must reflect concern and give the impression that we are taking action. But in reality, all we can do is try to persuade the White House to involve the UK in the regulatory framework they have developed."
